Learning how to say rotten in Chinese can make conversations more precise. You might want to talk about spoiled food, decayed things, or something in bad shape.
The most common way to say rotten in Chinese is 烂 (làn). People use this word all the time in daily life.
Other words like 腐 (fǔ) and 朽 (xiǔ) show up in more formal or descriptive settings. They’re not as common in casual talk.
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You can use these words in loads of situations, from describing a rotten apple to talking about moral decay. Picking the right word helps you get your point across and avoid mix-ups.
For example, 烂苹果 means “rotten apple.” If you want to say something’s decomposed or putrid, you’d use 腐烂的.
Key Takeaways
- 烂 (làn) is the go-to word for “rotten” in Chinese
- Terms like 腐 (fǔ) and 朽 (xiǔ) pop up in certain contexts
- Using the right word makes your meaning clearer, whether you’re being casual or formal
Essential Chinese Words for Rotten
Chinese has a handful of words for “rotten,” and each one fits a different vibe or situation. Some describe actual decay, while others point to bad morals or low quality.
Understanding when to use each word really helps you sound natural.
腐 and Its Pronunciation
The character 腐 (fǔ) means rotten or decayed. You’ll see it used for food, stuff that’s breaking down, or even to talk about corruption.
Pronunciation:
- Pinyin: fǔ
- Tone: Third tone (low dipping tone)
Example words:
- 豆腐 (dòufu), tofu (literally “bean curd”)
- 腐败 (fǔbài), corruption, decay
- 腐臭 (fǔchòu), putrid smell
腐 shows up in both simplified and traditional Chinese and looks the same. You’ll usually see it in compound words, not on its own in conversation.
If you want to dive into the details, check out the Han Trainer Pro entry for 腐.
腐烂的 vs. 腐朽的: Key Differences
腐烂的 (fǔlàn de) talks about something physically rotting or breaking down. People use it for spoiled food, dying plants, or anything that’s obviously decomposing.
This word brings to mind strong smells and sights, real, physical decay.
腐朽的 (fǔxiǔ de) also means rotten, but it’s more about moral or structural decay. You might use it for old systems, corrupt practices, or stuff that’s just falling apart.
It can work for physical things, but usually it’s more about ideas or institutions.
| Term | Common Use | Example Context |
|---|---|---|
| 腐烂的 | Physical decay | Rotten fruit |
| 腐朽的 | Moral/structural decay | Corrupt regime |
Both words use 腐, but the second character, 烂 or 朽, changes the meaning from just physical rot to something more abstract.
You can check out more examples in the Cambridge English, Chinese Dictionary entry for rotten.
烂 and 朽: Additional Variations
烂 (làn) means rotten, broken, or in bad condition. People use it for spoiled food, busted stuff, or even low-quality work.
In conversation, you’ll hear it alone a lot, like “这苹果烂了” (“This apple is rotten”).
朽 (xiǔ) means decayed or rotten, but it sounds more formal or poetic. You’ll see it in words like 不朽 (bùxiǔ, “immortal”) and 朽木 (xiǔmù, “rotten wood”).
烂 is the everyday pick, while 朽 feels literary. Both can team up with 腐 for more specific meanings.
Want a bigger list? Check out WordHippo’s Chinese translations for rotten.
Using Rotten in Real-Life Chinese Contexts
In Chinese, you’ll pick different words for “rotten” depending on whether you’re talking about food, stuff, or abstract ideas. Choosing between 烂, 腐烂, and 腐朽 depends on the situation, how formal you want to sound, and whether you’re being literal or figurative.
Describing Spoiled Food or Objects
For food that’s gone bad, 烂 and 腐烂 are your best bets. 烂 is the quick, casual choice. For instance, “这苹果烂了” just means “This apple is rotten.”
腐烂 sounds more formal and paints a stronger picture. You’ll see it in writing, science, or when something’s really decomposed. “鱼已经腐烂” means “The fish has decayed.”
If you’re talking about things that aren’t food, 烂 works for broken or worn-out stuff, like “烂衣服” (worn-out clothes). 腐烂 doesn’t get used much for objects unless they can actually rot.
| Chinese Term | Pinyin | Common Use Case | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 烂 | làn | Casual, daily | 这面包烂了。 |
| 腐烂 | fǔ làn | Formal, decay | 树叶腐烂了。 |
Metaphorical and Idiomatic Uses
People also use 烂 for bad quality or poor performance. “烂电影” means “a bad movie.” If someone did a messy job, you might hear “写得很烂” (written poorly).
腐朽 pops up when talking about moral decay or outdated ideas. It shows up in criticism, like “腐朽的思想” (decadent thinking).
腐烂 sometimes gets used for things that are festering over time, like “腐烂的制度” (a decaying system). It sounds a bit more dramatic than just saying 烂.
Regional and Colloquial Expressions
In most places, 烂 is what people say every day. Down south, folks might say “烂透了” for “completely rotten” or “terrible.”
Some dialects use 烂 as slang for bad moods or situations, think “心情烂” (bad mood). Don’t use that in your essay, though; it’s more for texting friends.
腐朽 isn’t common in daily chat and sounds more official or old-school, especially up north. 腐烂 shows up across regions, but mostly in technical or descriptive talk.
Regional habits can change the tone, too. In Cantonese, 烂 can sound especially sharp when you’re talking about someone’s work or attitude.
For more on the literal meaning of “rotten” in Chinese, check the Cambridge English-Chinese Traditional Dictionary or get details on 烂 from Wikilanguages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mandarin uses different words for “rotten” depending on whether you mean food, plants, wood, or even a bad smell. The word you choose depends a lot on what’s rotting and how far gone it is.
More ways for how to say rotten in Chinese sentences:
- Chinese: 篮子里的苹果忘记吃，已经烂了一半。
Pinyin: Lánzi lǐ de píngguǒ wàngjì chī, yǐjīng làn le yíbàn.
English: The apples in the basket were forgotten and half of them have already gone bad. - Chinese: 这部手机的电池用久了，续航烂得只能撑两小时。
Pinyin: Zhè bù shǒujī de diànchí yòng jiǔ le, xùháng làn de zhǐ néng chēng liǎng xiǎoshí.
English: The battery on this phone is so worn out that its terrible endurance only lasts two hours. - Chinese: 他昨晚熬夜打游戏，今天状态烂到连咖啡都救不了。
Pinyin: Tā zuówǎn áoyè dǎ yóuxì, jīntiān zhuàngtài làn dào lián kāfēi dōu jiù bù liǎo.
English: He stayed up all night gaming, so today he’s in such awful shape that even coffee can’t save him. - Chinese: 雨下得太大，田里刚熟的草莓全烂在地里了。
Pinyin: Yǔ xià de tài dà, tián lǐ gāng shú de cǎoméi quán làn zài dì lǐ le.
English: The rain was so heavy that the newly ripened strawberries in the field all rotted on the ground. - Chinese: 虽然这部电影评分烂，我们还是看得哈哈大笑。
Pinyin: Suīrán zhè bù diànyǐng píngfēn làn, wǒmen háishì kàn de hāhā dàxiào.
English: Even though this movie has terrible ratings, we still laughed our heads off watching it.
